Trap House Review: I went into Trap House expecting something wild, and I got exactly that, though not in the way I imagined. The setup itself sounds like something cooked up during a late-night writing session: kids of undercover DEA agents start robbing cartel stash houses to make ends meet. Yeah. That’s the movie.
Now, this could’ve gone full ridiculous, like Fast & Furious: High School Edition, but surprisingly, it finds a weird balance between teen chaos and grown-up violence. Director Michael Dowse doesn’t treat it like a joke. There are moments of real, R-rated danger that keep reminding you, these kids are way out of their depth.
My Rating: 3.0/5
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Trap House |
| Release Year | 2025 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Thriller |
| Director | Michael Dowse |
| Writers | Gary Scott Thompson, Michael Dowse |
| Main Cast | Dave Bautista, Jack Champion, Bobby Cannavale, Inde Navarrette, Sophia Willis, Tony Dalton, Kate del Castillo |
| Runtime | Approx. 1 hour 50 minutes |
| Country | United States |
The Setup
Cody (Jack Champion) leads the charge after his DEA agent dad dies, leaving the family broke. So he ropes in his friends, other kids of undercover agents, to rob cartel trap houses around El Paso. They use non-lethal takedowns, gadgets, and techniques they probably picked up at the dinner table. It’s absurd, but in a fun, watchable way.
The heists feel like teen adventure montages straight out of early 2000s movies, fast cars, risky plans, and bad decisions. Then the movie cuts to Dave Bautista, playing Cody’s dad’s partner, tracking the same cartel that’s hunting these kids. His storyline feels ripped from a gritty action thriller, while the kids’ plot belongs to a Saturday night popcorn flick. It’s two movies trying to coexist, and somehow Dowse makes it just coherent enough.
What Works
Bautista carries this film. He grounds the insanity with a calm, believable performance. When his character realizes what the kids have done, his reaction feels painfully real: disbelief, anger, fear, love, all rolled into one. Without him, this movie would’ve turned into a parody of itself.
Jack Champion isn’t bad either. Cody could’ve been another cocky teen lead, but he has just enough charm to make you root for him, even when his decisions make zero sense. Sophia Willis stands out among the teen crew, though the rest barely register beyond “comic relief” or “generic friend.”
And credit where it’s due, Dowse keeps the pacing tight. He knows this story is bonkers, so he doesn’t waste time pretending it’s Shakespeare.
What Doesn’t
Tone. The movie can’t decide what it wants to be. One scene feels like Spy Kids on steroids, and the next could’ve come straight out of Sicario. The shift between teen energy and cartel brutality is jarring. When you go from a goofy romance subplot to a headshot, it’s hard to know how you’re supposed to feel.
Dalton and del Castillo, both excellent actors, are once again stuck playing cartel villains. They do it well, but it’s getting predictable. You can practically hear their agents sighing when the casting call says “ruthless drug lord.”
And yeah, the ending. It’s over-the-top, messy, and sets up a sequel that probably won’t happen. But hey, if it does, I’d watch it.
Final Thoughts
Trap House isn’t a great film, but it’s not trying to be. It’s fun, unpredictable, and occasionally tense enough to make you sit up. Think of it like a crossover between Fast & Furious, The Goonies, and Narcos, if that idea sounds insane but kind of awesome, this movie’s for you.
If you want something polished and grounded, skip it. If you’re in the mood for chaos, kids with questionable judgment, and Dave Bautista doing his “tired but badass dad” thing, go for it.
Also Read: Playdate Review — Alan Ritchson and Kevin James Bring Mayhem and Laughs to Prime Video
Quick Breakdown
| What Worked | What Didn’t |
|---|---|
| Dave Bautista’s grounded, emotional performance | Wild tonal shifts between teen fun and brutal violence |
| Fast pacing that keeps things entertaining | Underdeveloped teen characters (aside from Cody and Sophia) |
| Some genuinely fun, creative heist moments | Over-the-top ending that tries too hard to tease a sequel |
| A weird but watchable mix of genres | Predictable cartel villains we’ve all seen before |
My Verdict:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5.
Trap House is a wild, uneven, but strangely entertaining ride. You’ll roll your eyes one minute and cheer the next—and honestly, that’s half the fun.
